Forum Discussion

dcairns's avatar
dcairns
Explorer
Nov 11, 2022

Roof A/C Removal

It is about time to do some maintenance on my trailer's roof. It has been 14 years since I put new EDPM on top and the roof:
Replacing the Rubber Roof on my Prowler (lots of pictures)
(yeah, still got that '96 Fleetwood Prowler. It still suits us perfectly)

The roof is starting to showing some need of help, so I am going to be trying one of those coatings on top to give it some more life (probably Dicor). This will mean pulling off the A/C unit (again). I am wondering if I should just dump the A/C. We have never used it, since we dry camp and go to places with pleasant to cool weather. Could save some weight and vertical clearance.

The question becomes, what to do with the hole in the roof? Extra large vent fan? (is there such a thing?) Fill with wood and EDPM patch? I already have a Fantastic Vent about 3 feet from the A/C and a 2 speed fan in the bathroom. Maybe an extra fan might be nice in some cases. Maybe the light from a translucent cover might be nice. Anyone have other ideas/suggestions?

View of the top from last time:
  • When I removed mine, I simply replaced it with another vent, extra light from above. Now seeing as there is a 120 AC line colocated, trace it back to the breaker panel, remove it and route it over to the 12 V DC, then you can add another fan in there.
  • It should be a 14x14" hole, which is the standard size for roof vents.
  • Fisherman - Good idea on re-using the wiring.

    spoon059 - I went outside and measured the opening, and you are quite right, 14x14. Somehow I thought it was bigger. That makes it easy to find a fan or vent cover. Thanks for making me look :D

    midnightsadie - While I was there, I turned it on. It is a 70 degree day outside, it puts out 48 degree air inside. Not bad for an A/C that has probably not been serviced since it was new in 1996 (26 years!). Not sure how it would do in hot weather, but it does seem to function.

    By the time I sell this trailer, it will probably be worth nothing :D Although, over the last several years, I have had a constant stream of people knocking on my door asking if I would sell it. I had to put a "NOT FOR SALE" sign in the window of the trailer to stop the bother.